I Disagree with Daniel Priestley!

Yes It's Okay to Have Your Own Opinion

While listening to a podcast recently, I heard Daniel Priestley - the creator of the well-known Key Person of Influence (KPI) concept - say something that I flat-out disagree with.

He was asked if a business owner could assign a team member to be the face of the brand if they themselves didn't want to be front facing. His answer: No. I disagree.

His reasoning? "The employee will receive all the attention and eventually own the brand," (paraphrasing).

That's when I knew I had to write this.

First Things First | Let's Clear the Air

I'm going to try and prevent this article from becoming nothing more than a "love letter" to Mr. Priestley, but I must say that Daniel Priestley is one of the most brilliant thought leaders in the area of business today and his success speaks for itself.

I would encourage every entrepreneur on the planet to consume absolutely everything he has produced by way of content. His genius as an entrepreneur is his ability to take very large concepts and curate them into actionable processes that produce amazing results.

I personally listen to every word, like the words of the song says, ..."listen like a thief..." when Daniel speaks and that's exactly what I was doing when I caught this first and only point I absolutely disagree with him about.

KPI vs. PPI: A Strategic Comparison

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Why PPI Is the Better Fit for Most Modern Businesses

• Most businesses aren't founder-led from a media perspective. They just need someone trusted and trained to be the voice.

• PPI is role-based, not ego-based. It can be handed off, evolved and expanded.

• PPI supports internal brand building. It trains employees to think like brand advocates - not just task-doers.

• It's built for systems, not spotlight. The PPI isn't just about being known - it's about building trust, visibility, and momentum for the whole company.

Closing Thoughts

I get the logic behind Mr. Priestley's view - after all, a charismatic founder can move mountains. But charisma isn't a system, and personality isn't a strategy.

In today's digital economy, you don't need to be the brand to build the brand. You just need someone ready to speak, show up, and serve as your Prominent Person of Impact.

That's the difference - and I believe it's the future.